City of Tekoa
COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
For March 21, 2016
I. CALL TO ORDER: Mayor John Jaeger called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Council members present at the meeting were Jaeger, Ted Blaszak, John Giudice, Alyssa Heagy, Roy Schulz, Carol Sturman, David Tysz, and Troy Wilson. Kynda Browning, Clerk/Treasurer; and Stephen Bishop, City Attorney, were also in attendance. In attendance in the audience were Diane Harp, Robert Heagy, Brec McAloon, and Laura McAloon.
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor John Jaeger asked those present to join him in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Browning swore in new council members Alyssa Heagy and Carol Sturman.
III. PROFESSIONAL CONSULTATION: Diane Harp gave the council a graph showing the Community Change by Strategy for the Healthy Tekoa Coalition. She also described the different things the coalition has done over the years.
IV. COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE: There were none.
V. CORRESPONDENCE: There was none.
VI. OLD BUSINESS:
A. FOOTBALL FIELD: Mayor Jaeger received a letter from the school asking for a letter from the city saying we are willing to sell the football field to them, including the price of sale.
B. .09 GRANT APPROVAL: A copy of the .09 grant application was presented to the council. Roy Schulz made a motion to apply for the .09 grant for $64,500 with the city paying 25%. Alyssa Heagy seconded the motion; John Giudice said there are people in the community who are concerned with putting the ramp between the two buildings. He suggested if we come up short that we don't put the ramp between the buildings. All council members voted yes.
C. NEGOTIATIONS: Mayor Jaeger said that he would like to discuss this in executive session. Stephen Bishop said we can discuss personnel issues in executive session, but if we are just discussing salaries, it needs to be done in the regular meeting.
Ted Blaszak said they met with the employees twice and researched overtime and comp time issues and health insurance. He said it boiled down to two different options: The first option would change Kynda Browning to a management position and change Tara Chittenden to a part-time employee, with less than 30 hours a week, raise her rate of pay and offer no city-purchased benefits for either one. They would also raise Duane Groom’s pay and continue to pay his individual health insurance. The second option would pay all the employees’ individual health insurance. If they offered health insurance to all employees, they would change Tara Chittenden to 40 hours per week, so the office could be open all the time while Kynda Browning was attending training. Dave Tysz asked if they considered having a cap on salaries and benefits. Ted Blaszak said they discussed having the employees pay 5% of their health care after 2 years and 10% after 4 years and then a cap on their salaries. There was discussion about the employees paying a portion of their healthcare. John Giudice asked about what is being proposed on healthcare, because currently, there is a variance in what each employee receives for healthcare. Ted Blaszak said the city would pay for the employee only. The council will vote on this at the April meeting.
D. ANIMAL ORDINANCE: Mayor Jaeger presented a copy of an updated animal ordinance that he compiled. Stephen Bishop will present a copy of the animal ordinance in ordinance form for the next meeting.
VII. NEW BUSINESS:
A. ARENA LIASION AND FINANCIAL COUNCILPERSON: Alyssa Heagy will be the financial person for the city. Mayor Jaeger will be the arena liaison.
B. CONCERN WITH BUILDING ON CORNER OF CROSBY AND CONNELL: Otto Tanner owns the building on the corner of Crosby and Connell, and there are pieces of the building falling to the sidewalk below. Stephen Bishop and Zach Lanham will come up with a letter to send to Mr. Tanner. A portion of the roof is coming off the telephone building, so a letter will also be sent to them.
VIII. REPORTS:
A. MAYOR’S REPORT: (Mayor Jaeger) He reported we received a planning-only grant from CDBG for $24,000 to do an assessment on the inflow and infiltration.
B. COUNCIL REPORTS: Dave Tysz said that he received a letter from WASDOT for the airport. He gave the information to Roy Schulz.
Troy Wilson said the silt fence is still up by the bridge. He asked if we have considered having someone come and fill potholes instead of the maintenance crew. There was discussion. He said we should be seeing the cell tower soon.
Ted Blaszak said that Paul Kimmel from Avista said that the LED lights are on the way. He also said there are three more cities supporting the trails. John Giudice made a motion to apply for the municipal excellence award. Roy Schulz seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
John Giudice asked if we should be concerned about trucks coming through the area by the basketball court. The council discussed putting a no-through-traffic sign at the area that was the proposed truck by-pass.
IX. CONSENT AGENDA:
A. APPROVE February 22, 2016, and March 7, 2016, MEETING MINUTES: Roy Schulz made a motion to approve the February 22, 2016, and March 7, 2016, meeting minutes as presented. John Giudice seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
B. APPROVE BILLS FOR PAYMENT: Roy Schulz made a motion to approve payroll checks 12182 through 12188 and EFT payroll checks totaling $19,979.51; and check numbers 12189 through 12214, 12230, 12231, 12232, 12235 through 12246, voided checks 12215 through 12229, 12233, 12234 and EFT checks for $72,507.96 as presented. John Giudice seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
X. ADJOURNMENT: Roy Schulz made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:53 p.m. John Giudice seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
APPROVED:
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John Jaeger – Mayor
ATTEST:
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Kynda Browning – Clerk/Treasurer
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